Former Watford striker Troy Deened has claimed that Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney is the "most disrespected player" in the history of English football. The Englishman made a name for himself during his stint with Everton before joining Manchester United in 2004.
Rooney became a household name in England after joining The Red Devils, becoming the club's record goalscorer during his 13-year stay at Old Trafford. His absence has left a massive void in Manchester United's attack that no player has been able to fill.
Rooney scored 253 goals for United, winning five Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League title in 2008 under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Despite not winning an international trophy with the Three Lions, Deeney feels Rooney left an indelible mark on the Premier League and people don't realise how good a player he was.
While speaking on The Stomping Ground, Deeney said:
‘Wayne Rooney might be the most disrespected footballer in English history. People don’t know how f*****g good Wayne Rooney was, and still is."
Ex-Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison interjected and said:
"I think he [Rooney] is the best player ever to come out of England, by far, by far."
Deeney then added:
"I don’t disagree with that. There’s nothing that man couldn’t do. You know how people talk about Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham now… Wayne could do it all. He scored goals, he was stronger than most players, he was rapid, he would tackle. At 18 he was going at Lilian Thuram [at Euro 2004]!"
Rooney was England's record goalscorer from 2015 to 2023 until the current Three Lions' captain Harry Kane surpassed his tally of 53 goals.
Manchester United sack Erik ten Hag following a string of harrowing performances
Dutch tactician Erik ten Hag's future at Manchester United looked uncertain after the Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League last season, their worst-ever finish in the PL.
However, the board stuck with the former Ajax manager despite considering other options during the summer. Sadly, United's woes didn't come to an end as they started the 2024-2025 season in similar fashion. United are yet to win a single game in the UEFA Europa League and have only managed one win in their last five Premier League games.
The club decided to part ways with the Dutchman shortly after their 2-1 loss against West Ham United. United have appointed Rúben Amorim as their next manager, who will take charge on November 11.